VR-33 audition?

jbomber · « **on:** 7 Jun 2011, 11:03 pm »

Hi All,

I've been running my home theater with my 15+ year-old Dunlavy SCIIIs, and they've finally turned the corner and headed towards the grave. So I'm considering purchasing a pair of VR-33s and the VSA center channel speaker for my home theater. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and was hoping to find someone who has used the VR-33 speakers in this application. If you'd be willing to offer an "audition", that would be great. But any info or advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance, j

Malcolm02 · « **Reply #1 on:** 8 Jun 2011, 07:53 pm »

Hi jbomber,

This is my first post after being a lurker for a while. I have a pair of (mostly broken in) VR-33 in a home theater set up. I would say that they work equally well for music and movies. I live in the SF area (Santa Clara) and would be happy to have you round for an audition. I already did that for another potential customer that Albert contacted me about.

I can't see your profile to e-mail you. Can you see mine? If so e-mail me and we can work something out.

Malcolm

shmuyator · « **Reply #2 on:** 10 Jun 2011, 09:48 pm »

+1
i would love to join you guys if that's possible! i work in sunnyvale.

Malcolm02 · « **Reply #3 on:** 11 Jun 2011, 03:44 pm »

Sure, the more the merrier!

I haven't heard from the original poster yet, but you can e-mail me at my username here plus @aol.com.

Malcolm

jbomber · « **Reply #4 on:** 20 Jun 2011, 05:49 am »

Sorry I was out of the loop for a while -- vacation to the east coast with the family, then to the mountains. I'd love to drop by for an audition. Oakland to Santa Clara can be a traffic nightmare, unless we do it late morning or late evening. Let me know what works.

What sort of amplification are you running? I've got a Pioneer Elite SC-09 -- 140w x 9ch. But let's face it: The SC-09, as good as it is, doesn't push the same 140w as, say, McIntosh. So I'm a little worried that I may be under-powered for the room (24x20x8). What do you think?

Malcolm02 · « **Reply #5 on:** 21 Jun 2011, 05:17 am »

The speakers are easy to drive. I think 140 watts from any amp would be fine. Let's sort out the arrangements in e-mail.

My equipment is set up as a home theater system, though I do a lot of 2 channel music listening. In addition to the VR-33, it comprises:

Denon DVD-3910 DVD player, LG Blu-ray player
Theta Casablanca (mark I) surround processor
Sunfire 5 channel amp
VSA TS-150 Surrounds; I use a phantom center

ie. reasonably high end system, if not a tweaky audiophile one (no tube amps). I recently installed a new rack from Salamander, so now it looks as well as sounds good, which my girlfriend is happy about (she thought it looked like a warehouse before). Here is a pic I took:

JackD201 · « **Reply #6 on:** 21 Jun 2011, 09:31 am »

Sweet!

scb · « **Reply #7 on:** 21 Jun 2011, 09:58 pm »

nice! which salamander rack? i'm considering one, though I'll need to get the extension rear panel (or leave the rear panel off behind my amp)

Malcolm02 · « **Reply #8 on:** 21 Jun 2011, 10:36 pm »

My rack is the Salamander Synergy 237, which I ordered from Amazon. They come in different shapes and sizes, so you should decide which one is best for you. The web site has a section where you can interactively build your own, which is neat. My triple width one has my speakers about 7 feet apart center to center, with a few inches between cabinet and speakers. A bit cramped but it works fine and is all my room allows.

If it was just me, I would have got just the frame, but my girlfriend likes the doors to cover the equipment. I didn't install the back panels - I don't know how I would have connected everything with those in place. I chose black to match the speakers and other stuff. Given a choice I get equipment in black so that everything matches.

Malcolm

BigSwede · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Jun 2011, 02:39 am »

Quote from: Malcolm02 on 21 Jun 2011, 05:17 am

The speakers are easy to drive. I think 140 watts from any amp would be fine.

I agree...my Bel Canto is 120 wpc and I have no trouble making my ears bleed if I want to.

Gregavi · « **Reply #10 on:** 17 Jul 2011, 05:45 pm »

Did you guys ever get together for an audition? If so, how'd it go? Impressions of the VR-33s? Did you compare them to any "High End" ($15000/pr range) speakers to verify their claim that the 33s sound just as good? There is another speaker on the market that makes similar claims. The Golden Ear Triton Two has a reviewer stating:
"My experience of listening with them paralleled previous encounters with no-holds-barred speakers—ones priced upwards
of $50,000."
– Al Griffin, Sound & Vision Magazine

I'd love to come over for a listen but I'm in Santa Barbara. My brother lives up there in the bay area (San Carlos) and I occasionally visit. Let me know if you are open to another visitor. And, if you're ever in Sbar Ca., I'd be happy to have you over to check out my system. Here are some photos of my Home Theater, or you can see my entire HT build here: http://s1116.photobucket.com/albums/k568/Gregavi/

Malcolm02 · « **Reply #11 on:** 19 Jul 2011, 04:04 pm »

I'm the one who is offering my system for audition. I had 4 or 5 people say they are interested but due to busy schedules and such nothing has happened so far. I'm still open to it so let me know. I'm in Santa Clara.

If you want general impressions of the VR-33 there are plenty on this forum. I just returned from the California Audio Show and as I listen to my system now I'm very happy with it compared to most of what I heard there.

Gopher · « **Reply #12 on:** 21 Dec 2011, 08:39 pm »

Quote from: Malcolm02 on 21 Jun 2011, 05:17 am

The speakers are easy to drive. I think 140 watts from any amp would be fine. Let's sort out the arrangements in e-mail.

My equipment is set up as a home theater system, though I do a lot of 2 channel music listening. In addition to the VR-33, it comprises:

Denon DVD-3910 DVD player, LG Blu-ray player
Theta Casablanca (mark I) surround processor
Sunfire 5 channel amp
VSA TS-150 Surrounds; I use a phantom center

ie. reasonably high end system, if not a tweaky audiophile one (no tube amps). I recently installed a new rack from Salamander, so now it looks as well as sounds good, which my girlfriend is happy about (she thought it looked like a warehouse before). Here is a pic I took:

Is it a problem having the VR-33s flanking deep equipment shelves and the TV like that?

Any thoughts on driving them with a 26wpc Decware Torii 3? I love my current loudspeakers but am growing really tired of battling acoustics/placement issues.

Malcolm02 · « **Reply #13 on:** 23 Dec 2011, 08:19 pm »

Quote from: Gopher on 21 Dec 2011, 08:39 pm

Is it a problem having the VR-33s flanking deep equipment shelves and the TV like that?

Any thoughts on driving them with a 26wpc Decware Torii 3? I love my current loudspeakers but am growing really tired of battling acoustics/placement issues.

Right, I could probably get better imaging with the speakers further apart and without the equipment in between, but it still sounds pretty good. I'd love to have a dedicated listening room to set up exactly how I want, but this is a living room that I'm sharing with my girlfriend so I have to work within its limitations and compromise with her (and believe me it took a certain amount of negotiation to get the system to where it is, but I'm reasonably happy with it now).

How would your amp drive the speakers? 26 watts doesn't sound like much but the speakers are easy to drive. My guess is that it would be ok in a modest size room at moderate levels but would run out of steam if you try and crank it up in a large room, but I don't know, I'm just guessing.

tpi10d · « **Reply #14 on:** 24 Dec 2011, 01:16 am »

i have setup similar to Malcolm's with flat panel TV between the speakers and approx. the same distance from the TV to the speakers. It does not appear to affect the imaging of the speakers. I don't feel a hole in the middle effect. The speakers do have a bit of depth I find unique for box speakers. Its not like a planar in degree however but there is a bit of a 3d sound.

I drive mine with Yamaha AS 2000 90 watts per channel.

I'm very pleased with the VR 33s. Unfortunately I don't have good reference for comparison. I replaced older Infinity RS IIIa speakers and find the VR33 have a smoother less present upper midrange, and more energy in the treble (although smooth and non fatiguing). I have not compared them to state of the art modern speakers. I just don't have the time and patience to listen to the variety available. The VR33s are delightful to listen to on good recordings. Well recorded vocals sound very nice/. I have realistic expectations about recorded music, but once in a while the speakers produce an uncanny "you are there" feeling. I've noticed it on treble piano notes. They are very musical and pleasant on well recorded material.

The speakers have plenty of energy at 30 hz. I have a 20x20x8 room which tends to brings out that frequency. My speakers are a few inches from wall and I found I could tame the 30 hz by filling the ports. With ports open or closed they do not produce one note bass, and the bass isn't muddy or distorted.

I certainly feel they are well worth the price. I'm driving them with good, but not esoteric equipment. The purchase experience was first rate.

sionlim · « **Reply #15 on:** 29 Dec 2011, 02:05 am »

Helllo. I too am interested in the VR 33 , did you buy the speakers ? i live in SF and have the triton 2 which for the money is great for HT but way to bassy for me in my little room. So i was thinking about getting the vr 33 to replace it and stop buying HI FI. It was being run by a Manly itube and oppo 95 as its source with itunes. Which does not go well together in my room. I recently bought a spirit 3 to run my old Martin Logan source setup and was woNdering if anyone out there would invite me for a listen in the SF area. THe Ayon is actually brand spanking new and is being shipped as i type. So i will want to bring it along 75 lbs of metal, with the oppo if thats ok.

mad about tubes....

sionlim · « **Reply #16 on:** 4 Jan 2012, 06:54 am »

Thank you Malcolm for the invite , I'm not sure whether u got imy MSG to you as it seems there is a problem sending it from my side. I will make time to visit your setup this week if possible just send ,e the time and day and i will be there. Also I would like to bring my amp and oppo player if possible . I'll even bring an extension cord and my own wiring so that it won't complicate or disturb your setup.
Thanks again

Sion

JackD201 · « **Reply #17 on:** 5 Jan 2012, 12:17 pm »

Quote from: tpi10d on 24 Dec 2011, 01:16 am

the speakers produce an uncanny "you are there" feeling.

I just love it when that happens

sounddog · « **Reply #18 on:** 1 Feb 2012, 01:42 am »

I'm interested in the VR-33 too. Does anyone have a VR-33 in or near Southeast Michigan that they'd be willing to let me audition? I haven't heard any VSA speakers, let alone the VR-33, but after reading great reviews and comments about the VR-33, I called VSA and got a call back from Albert himself. Spent a very interesting hour on the phone with him. I know I can order the VR-33 and get a 90-day trial period - and I may end up doing that - but I'd prefer to audition a pair first.

pardales · « **Reply #19 on:** 1 Feb 2012, 02:41 am »

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=103034.0